It started with a bet. It ended with first- and sec ond-place finishes at the New England Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Back in the fall, Brockton High senior Deion Raper agreed to play football his senior year if Derolus ran winter track his junior year.

The year before, Derolus had given spring track a try, but gave it up early in the season.

After football season ended back in the fall, Derolus and Raper each had strong winter seasons, both earning Enterprise All- Scholastic honors.

Both took their success in the snowy months to new heights this spring.

Last Saturday, Derolus was crowned New England’s 100-me ter champion while Raper placed second in the 110 hurdles.

To be crowned the best sprinter in New England is a rare feat for anyone, let alone a junior compet ing in his first full year of track.

“We have a lot of kids who come on late at Brockton,” said Boxers second-year coach Matt Campbell. “It’s incredibly rare for a kid to come on late and domi nate like he has.”

Derolus described him and Raper as “twins.’’

“He’s the little brother I never had,” said Raper. “To see him finish first and even do better than me, I was happy.”

Raper is also a bit of phenom in his own right.

“Deion’s just a rock of consistency, one of the most coachable kids,” said Campbell. “He has got ten progressively better and he’s really only been hurdling for two years.”

On June 7, Raper had to decide between attending graduation or competing at All-States. Not competing at All-States would make Raper ineligible to run at New Englands.

“I skipped graduation to go to All-States because it was my dream to get to New Englands,” said Raper. “I told myself if I didn’t qualify I wasn’t coming home.”

Raper did make it home, as he placed second in the 110 hurdles at All-States.

Derolus, on the other hand, had a disappointing showing, placing fifth at All-States despite being ranked No. 2 in the preliminaries.

“(Jon) stumbled a little bit at All-States,” said Campbell. “He was right there neck-and-neck with first place and he missed a step. At that level, when you miss a step you’re probably going to finish in fifth place.”

Derolus used that fifth place as motivation his next time out.

“It was pretty motivating to try and get back and show I could get first place,” said Derolus. “It was also pretty motivating knowing it was going to be me and Deion’s last time running together, so one of us had to take first.”

Page 2 of 2 - The duo was at the heart of Brockton’s turnaround. The Box ers finished 17th (20 points) in EMass Div. 1 and 23rd (12) at All- States after finishing 19th (11) and 74th (one), respectively, last year.

“The seniors provided such great leadership,” said Campbell. “At a track practice, there’s so much going on that you rely on the seniors to help the younger kids out.

“It was a great track season. I’m very excited about what we have coming back next year.”

Derolus is a slot receiver and strong safety on the football team, while Raper was also a defensive back and wide receiver in his final season.

“We’re hoping he has a big year in football,” said Campbell of Derolus. “He’ll come back as one of the top sprinters in the area, if not the top in state.”

Raper’s track career is far from over, as he’ll run at Bryant University next year. He’ll also be competing in the 26th Down Under Tournament in Australia in the July.

“I feel like it’s the Olympics for kids,” said Raper of the event in Australia. “I’m excited it will be my first time traveling out of the country.

“Hopefully I can finish first.”

Raper will be running for the East Central Conference track & field team and hopes to compete in the 200 meters, hurdles and a relay.

Other locals such as Daquan Powell (Abington) and Nikayla Simpson (Brockton) have participated in the tournament.

Those interested in sponsoring Raper can go to downundersports.com, click sponsor and type in Raper’s name.

Chris McDaniel can be reached at CMcDaniel@enter prisenews.com and followed on Twitter @ChrisMcDaniel88.